CCDN@levels.sait.edu.au (DAVID NEWALL) (09/17/89)
From private correspondance: > David Newall writes: >> "You in the middle row, there! Yes, you with the blonde hair. That >> ... > > The problem is that comp.lang.c is not a classroom. That's true. However what constitutes a "beginner's" question is sometimes a matter for debate. I suggest that the only appropriate response to these questions is a simple answer, straight away. I think that more time is wasted wading through postings that say "RTFM you cretin" or "Let's create comp.lang.c.wizards" than would ever be wasted if we were all consistently helpful. To expand on my initial point, that is to say, that there is room for debate on what constitutes a "beginner's" question: Often times a question will be asked that I think is trivial; a beginner's question, if you like. But when these questions are answered by the experts, it sometimes turns out that the question was not so silly; and that my estimation of it's worth was just plain wrong. Sometimes a question that I think is a good one turns out to be a stupid misinterpretation of the manual; not so good after all. I think we should all remember that what separates us from the beginners is merely time. Our questions are not more worthy than their's; and we, the experts, still have a propensity for ignorance that can be irritating to others. Let us spend no more time arguing the merits of comp.lang.c.whatever. Let us not abuse others for their lack of knowledge. Let us, instead, answer the question at hand, and move on to more interesting matters. Any other course of action ill behoves us. David Newall Phone: +61 8 343 3160 Unix Systems Programmer Fax: +61 8 349 6939 Academic Computing Service E-mail: ccdn@levels.sait.oz{.au} SA Institute of Technology UUCP: uunet!munnari!pisa.sait.oz!ccdn The Levels, SA, 5095, Australia VAX PSI: 505282622004::ccdn -- David Newall Phone: +61 8 343 3160 Unix Systems Programmer Fax: +61 8 349 6939 Academic Computing Service E-mail: ccdn@levels.sait.oz.au SA Institute of Technology Post: The Levels, South Australia, 5095